One of the best thing about New York is that you don’t have to leave it to experience a wide variety of cultures and cuisines.New York is also a place that you walk around all the time- which gives a good excuse to stop by at cafes for a rest. If Global Link students ever get tired of walking around or having typical American foods like pizzas and burgers and want to splurge a bit on food and the experience, New York is the place to be! Here are 5 (+1) of my favorite spots to take my guests/friends to when they visit.

A traditional Milanese panini bar serving wine, espresso and light fare. This is a place that I would recommend when you go to the Metropolitan Museum or Central Park. It is a bit expensive but when it comes to quality, you won’t find much that beats it on this side of Park Avenue. Be sure to try their panini! They also have great cappuccino and a little gelato stand in front.

I first heard about this bistro from a friend of mine who loves French cuisine. Buvette is located in the heart of the West Village at 42 Grove Street, a neighborhood which is famous for having many cafes and restaurants. They have classic French dishes like Croque-monsieur and Coq au vin, and my favorite is the espresso wand-steamed scrambled eggs with prosciutto and shaved Parmesan on top. The decor has an effortless look and feels as warm as being in someone’s kitchen or a small bistro in Paris. Be prepared to wait in line for weekend brunch as it does not take reservations! There is also a second location in Paris, 9th arrondissement.

When you don’t feel like having American, Italian or French, why not try Moroccan/Mediterranean food? This place is known for its brunch-the cafe offers a twist on a traditional breakfast. Try the Moroccan Benedict served poached with spicy tomato sauce, home fries and pita bread! I like their hummus and falafels as well. Hummus is a Levantine and Egyptian food dip or spread made from chickpeas and falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty made of chickpeas, fava beans or both (similar to Japaneseコロッケ).

Little Collins is an Australian-influenced busy, small cafe in Midtown East named after a street in Melbourne. It serves Australian mainstays (the flat white and the piccolo latte) in addition to what you'd usually find from an American coffee bar: espresso-based drinks, pour overs, drip coffee, and cold brew. For those who heard flat white for the first time, “flat white” is a drink that consists of double shot espresso and a foamed milk. I also recommend their foods as well-from avocado toast, salads to sandwiches.

A French bakery and restaurant with a countryside decor- great for catching up with friends over a cup of coffee. I also like to stop by when I want a relaxing space and read a book over a good coffee. My favorite is their fresh seasonal salads, quiche and baked goods.

This is not a cafe but a Italian speciality grocery store that offers fresh, homemade ravioli and pasta at a very reasonable prices. It was also founded in New York City in 1906! It’s homey, easy to navigate, and you can customize flavor and size of your homemade pasta and they cut it to order. They can even cut it to your preferred width! I’ve tried their fresh pastas, ravioli and pumpkin gnocchi and they are all delicious!

About Shiori: She loves nature, art, classical music (both playing and listening), traveling and cats. This is her third winter in New York City. She is also a graduate of Columbia University and ICU. Feel free to reach her at information@jicuf.org for any questions about the Global Link program or things to do/see in NYC.

Global Link

Summer Internships in New York City for ICU Students

Global Link: Summer Internships in New York City, is a selective internship placement program for ICU students in New York City administered by the Japan ICU Foundation. The program will begin in the summer of 2014 and will provide up to 10 ICU students with internships in a broad range of organizations and businesses in New York City for seven weeks during the months of July and August. Global Link will expose ICU students to new skills and a professional network they can take with them into their future careers.